President Jennifer Simons returned to Suriname on Friday, September 25, after her visit to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly. During the mission, she drew attention to climate finance, held bilateral talks and launched a new passport service for Surinamese people abroad.
In her address to the UN on September 22, Simons called for dialogue and peaceful solutions to conflicts. She also stressed the importance of protecting Suriname’s forests and predictable financing for climate action. According to the president, trust in the United Nations must also be restored.
During the G-Zero Forum, Simons made five proposals for cooperation between Suriname, Bhutan, Madagascar and Panama. These include better access to climate and nature financing, the sharing of knowledge and data, and investments that take local communities into account. Suriname wants the cooperation to produce concrete results before the COP31 climate summit.
The president also took part in a meeting on artificial intelligence organised by the Inter-American Development Bank. There, she stated that Suriname must itself set the direction for the use of AI, including to improve government services and increase economic opportunities. She asked international partners for support in developing digital infrastructure and building expertise.
In New York, the Suriname Passport Application Services was also launched. This service is intended to make it easier for Surinamese people abroad to apply for a passport. According to the information provided, assessment, approval and issuance will remain in the hands of the Surinamese government.
During her visit, Simons spoke with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama. Discussions with the Netherlands included the history of slavery, education, healthcare and the movement of people. The conversation with Ghana concerned historical ties and cooperation in the areas of education, trade, investment and energy. (gov.sr)
